In benchmarking tests conducted by the NTC monitoring teams in the second quarter of the year, it was found that network signal strength of Smart stood at -62.63 dBm while Globe registered -69.83 dBm. The minimum acceptable average receive signal level, which refers to the signal strength coming from the cellular site all the way to the handset is -85 dBm.

Smart also edged out Globe in voice transmission quality. For average signal quality, Smart registered 0.63 while Globe posted 0.72. The minimum acceptable range is zero to 4, with zero being the highest. An average signal quality of zero indicates that there are no errors in transmission.

For call set-up time or the period from when a subscriber finished dialing to the time of the first ring, Smart registered 11.74 seconds, better by 0.16 seconds from Globe’s 11.90 seconds. The acceptable industry standard is below 14 seconds.

For dropped-calls, which refers to the percentage of on-going calls that were involuntarily terminated, both companies were within the 2-percent minimum standard. However, Smart registered a 1.53-percent dropped call rate while Globe’s stood at 1.66 percent.

For blocked calls, which refers to the percentage of calls that were not given access by the network, both cellular firms failed this test. Smart garnered a score of 9.95 percent while Globe recorded 4.45 percent. The standard is set at 4 percent. For this criteria, the NTC noted that Globe’s performance has an edge over Smart.

Benchmarking is undertaken by the NTC nationwide to determine the quality of service, network performance and subscriber’s satisfaction standards set under Memorandum Circular 07-06-2002.

The NTC said it has already called the attention of Globe and Smart regarding the results of the quality of the tests.

“The telcos informed the NTC that they are already addressing the matter. Globe said it is implementing an expansion and upgrading of its network. Smart said it continuous to rehabilitate its network,” said the NTC.

The agency also directed both Globe and Smart to inform the public of their ongoing efforts to improve services and provide a detailed report of these improvements on a per area basis, including date of completion.

“We will continue to monitor their networks” service performance to ensure that quality of service that telcos provide to the public,” said NTC director Edgardo Cabarios.

The tests were conducted using prepaid Globe and Smart SIM cards subscribing to regular services and not unlimited services. The NTC did not use SIM cards of Sun Cellular, Talk ‘N Text, Red Mobile and Touch Mobile because “these SIMs are using the networks of either Globe or Smart.”